Brick-machine



' 4Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) I J. 0.,ANDERSON.

BRICK MACHINE.

Patented May 8.1883.

'N PETERS. Phoblitmgn har. Waminflon. .6.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. 0.;ANDERSON.

BRICK MACHINE;

Patented'May 8, 1883.

9 .t A wwfiwmmd 7 "(N0 Mode 31.) I

No. 276,991 W- lIII 1 I I I I I l I I I I I I I I iii 1 I i n a? V w n II e lav/31,110? ow,

(No Model.).

4Sheet5-Sheet 3. J. 0. ANDERSON.

BRIOKMAOHINE. w No. 276,991. Patented May 8,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES o. ANDERSON, on HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

flBRiCK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 276,991, dated May 8, 1883.

Application filed March 30,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may co'nccr-n:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Highland Park, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Bricks, of which the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, forms a full, clear, and exact description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine as mounted on a dredging scow or boat. Fig.2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan view. Fig. is a sectional view of the pug or mixingmill and mold. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the mold-sections. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a portion of the mold-chain.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of bricks,tiles, and like articles in a cheap and rapid manner, and atthe same time utilizing the unctuous fatty clay formed in dredging river-channels for the production of brick, when combined with loamy or sandy clay, as will be more fully set forth; and to this end my invention consists in mounting on a scow-boat or vehicle two separate and distinct series of dredging and elevating buckets for dredging and elevating to a common reeepta cle or mixing-mill two difierent kinds of clay, which are there thoroughly mixed and tempered and shaped into the desired form.

My invention consists, further, in molds or a series-or endless chain of moldsof peculiar construction, adapted to pass beneath the pug or mixing mill and receive their charge of clay therefrom, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

My invention consists, further, in certain details ofeonstruction and operation of parts,

practice is to mix the fatty clay with sandy or loamy clay toxgive the proper consistence for working. This unctuous or fatty clay alone produces just as good brick as when mixed with the loamy, sandy clay; but the difficulty in working it, owing to its sticky nature, renders it necessary to mix the loamy, sandy clay therewith to produce the best results. The loamy, sandy clay, however, does not make good brick when worked alone, for the reason that it lacks in cementing qualities, and will not hold together with thattenacity requisite in the formation of a good brick. In dredging to deepen the channels of rivers, this stratum or vein of unctuous or fatty clay is met with and is brought up by the dredging-buckets in a wet, soggy condition; but in digging to widen the rivers, and in the building of dikes, the loamy and saudydeposits are met with. My present plan is to dredge the unctuous clay from the beds of rivers and convey it to a mixing-chamber, while at the same time the loamy clay is beingdug and carried to the same chamber, where the two clays are intimately mixed, thus producing a mass or body of clay which canbe readily worked without adherence to the molds or inconvenience in handling. Thedry, absorbing quality of the loamy clay readily takes npthe surplus moisture from the unctuous clay, thus producing an even-tempered good working clay.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism and appliances which I have found to be best adapted for the purpose of working the two kinds of clay, although the pugging or mixing machinery, together with the molding devices,- can be used to advantage in making brickor tile from other kinds of clay or other plastic material.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a vessel, vehicle, or framework of any-kind, on which or in which is mounted the main driving-shaft B, said shaft being mounted in suitable bearings, and provided with a driving or band pulley, 0, which is connected by means of a driving-belt or other suitable appliances to any convenient source of power, preferably a steam-engine (not shown) properly mounted in the vessel. This engine may be so connected with the requisite mechanism as not only to drive the brick-making and dredging mechanism, but also to propel the vessel from one point to another. The shaft B is provided with a clutch-operating mechanism, D, by means of which the pulley 0 maybe transformed or changed from a fast to a loose pulley. The shaftB is provided with a pinionwheel, A, which meshes with and imparts motion to a pinion-wheel, B, on the shaft 0, said shaft being also provided with a series of pulleys, which will be more fully hereinafter described.

D is a shaft mounted in suitable bearings. It lies parallel with the shaft 0 and derives motion therefrom by means of the pulleys a a and belt a. To the outer end of the shaft D is secured a bevel-gear wheel, b, which meshes with and imparts motion to the bevel-wheel b, secured to the upper end of the pug-mill shaft E, a detailed description of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth. The outer end sage.

The dredging and elevating mechanism first described is designed to excavate and convey to the pug or mixing mill the unctuous clay found in the lower stratum, and owing to the variable depth of said stratum the frame F and chain of excavating-buckets are made sufficiently long to meet the exigencies of the case. The excavating-buckets E discharge their load of clay into the mixing or pug mill through-the spout F.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism for excavating and carrying the clay from the upper or loamy stratum of clay to the pug or mixing mill to be mixed with the unctuous clay taken from the lower vein, which, as bei forestated, is necessary in order to more readily work the unctuous or fatty clay.

The excavating-scoops and frame for carrying the same are similar in construction to the devices just described except in this: they are Y mounted on a swinging crane, so they can be moved around to excavate the clay within prescribed limits from one or both sides of th boat.

- G is the swinging crane, properly secured in bearings, the trunnions of which are hollow to admit of a vertical shaft,G, passing there through, said .shaft being provided with a worm-gear, 1, near the top, which meshes with a corresponding wheel, I, on the drumshaft H, which supports the frame H, and

imparts motion to the series of excavatingbuckets I. The lower end of the central shaft is provided with a bevel-gear wheel, 0, which 'm eshes with a similar wheel, d, on theshaft 01, said shaft receiving motion from the shaft 0 by means of a belt, 6, which passes over a cone-pulley, e(, on the shaft 0, and a similar clay into the molds.

andthus regulate the quantity of loamy clay to be delivered into the pug-mill, which is to be mixed with the un'ctuous clay. The vertical shaft G, which passes through the post of the swinging crane has its bearings separate from the bearings of the post, so that the gear-wheels which impart motion to said shaft and the gear-wheels which are driven by it will at all times occupy the same relative position toward each other and toward the excavating mechanism driven by-it. This is an important consideration, for it enables the operator to swing the crane from one point to another to bring the excavating-buckets -in contact with the clay-beds. The arm I of the swinging crane is provided with sheaves or pulleys f, over which a rope passes from the winding-drum K, mounted on the post G, to a bail,f, secured to the lower end of the frame H, which bail, together with the excavatingbuckets, is raised and lowered so as to bring the buckets in contact with or away from the vein of loamy or other clay. The rope-drum K is provided. with a pinion-wheel, g, which is driven by a worm-gear on the shaft 9, said shaft being operated by a crank, h, and the drum K may be provided with a looking or pawl-and-ratchet device, which will hold the same together with the excavating devices in any desired position.

I have just described the devices by which the two different kinds of clay are excavated and elevated to the mixing or pug mill at one and the same time, and the devices which regu late the supply of any one kind of clay to the mixing-mill. I will now proceed to describe the mixing or pug mill, together with the molding and brick-forming devices.

L is a cylinder or mixing-drum of the pugmill, in which is suspended the pugging or mixing shaft L, said shaft being properly supported in hearings in the timbers or beams lb and driven by means of the bevel-wheel con- 'nection between said shaft and the shaft D. The lower portion of the cylinder L is open, so

, as to admit of the free passage of the tempered The cylinder L is also provided with an extended base, M, with the opening M, in or throughwhich the endless chain-of molds passes when being filled with clay, the sidewalls of the opening M serving also as side walls for the molds.

i i are cross-bars, secured in the bottom of the cylinder, which, in connection with the shoulder or bar 11, serve to strike off the surplus clay and form the upper side of the brick.

The shaft L,of the pug or mixing mill is provided with a series of screw-shaped disks, N, firmly secured thereto. Thesedisks N are set wider apart at the top than at the bottom of the shaft, so that the clay fed in at. the top IIO ofthe mill is forced down by the screw-disks into the molds below, and in its passage through the mill is sliced up finely and intimately mixed into a homogeneous mass.

N isthe chain of molds,composed ofa series of steel castings, k, linked together, said castings beingprovided with a projecting flange, k, ati one end, which, in connection with the flange It of the adjacent section, form the boundary or division of the mold-sections. The castings k are provided with grooves l, and the flanges k are divided into sections, leaving an open space, 1', between them, so that the knives which sever the clay into sections can pass therethrough.

O. is a knife or a series of knives, secured in the throat of the cavity of M, the lower ends of which project downward and forward into the I a grooves lofthe mold-sections, so as to sever the clay which has been forced into the moldsections into the desirable size. 7

I have shown the endless chain of molds as constructed to make four bricks at one time;

1 y d but it is obvious that the inold-sectionscan be made so as to make any desired number.

. It will be noticed that the sides of the opening M form the sides of the mold-sections while the same is passing therethrough, and

thatthe clay is forced down into the mold-secers or bars t and i, while the knives O sever tions by the action of the pugging-screw, the

surplus of clay being struck off or forced back into the adjacent mold-sections by the scrapthe clay in a longitudinal direction, as before stated. The endless chain of mold-sections pass over the drums O and P, the drum being provided at one end with a miter-wheel,

whichengages with a a similar wheel on the shaft m, said shaft being driven by a band, a,

i i and over a pulley, n, secured to the shaft D;

which passes over a pulley, a, on the shaft m,

a and it is by the means just describedthat the mold-chain or chain of endless molds are fss caused to travel through the lower portionof the pug or mixing mill to receive their charge of clay and convey the same away in the shape of a finished brick or tile. The frame 1?, which supports the drums O and P, is also provided H with a series of friction-rollers, 0, which sup- 1 5 port the endless chain of molds after they are filled with clay. The frame P and endless chain of molds may be of any convenient or. .desired length, so as to convey the brick to theshore or to any desired point on the scow or boat, when they are stacked up to dry.

In order to prevent .the more unctuous or A fatty clays from sticking to the molds, the

mold-sections'are made to pass through a tank a of water, Q, which moistens or lubricates the I may have adhered thereto. [pass from the tank Q beneath the sanding-box Q, from which a spray of sand gravitates upon- 6; 1 the molds, so that when the wetting or sand- 1 S molds, and removes therefrom any clay which The mold-sections ing of the molds is necessary it can be done automatically.

In sometof the fatty clays the operation of sanding the molds will be found unnecessary, as the wetting alone will be sufficient to cause the bricks to drop from the mold after they have passed or while they are passing over the drum P.

I prefer to make my dredging and elevator buckets of-cast-steel, cast in one piece,so that there will be no rough edges or projections to stand the wear and tear of the dredging operation. I do not, however, in this appliration desire to claim a dredging, excavating, or

elevator bucket cast in one piece from steel; but reserve the right to make a separate application for a patent for the same.

catch and retain the clay; and, furthermore, i buckets cast from steel are better able to with- It will be noticed that by the method and means described bricks and tiles can be made rapidly and cheaply; that the clay is taken direct from the bed or pit and conveyed to the mixing and molding mechanism by the devices and combination of devices described, so that,

the handling of the clay by manual labor is obviated; also, that by means of the cone-pulleys the amount of clay from the loamy vein can be so regulated that the supply will always be of the proper proportion to mix with the nnct'uous fatty clay to form a brick.

Having thus described my invention, what. Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. The method herein describedof making brick, the same consisting in dredging or excavating'two or more clays at the same time and in predetermining proportional quantities,

good marketable conveying the same to a mixing and temper-f ing mill and thoroughly mixing the same, and

then forming the same into bricks or tiles in one continuous operation, as set forth.

2. A plant for the manufacture of brick, tiles, c mounted on a boat or suitable mova-ble or stationary frame-work, anil consisting of two sets of clay dredging and elevating buckets adapted to discharge different kinds of clay into a mixing-mill, a mixing or pugging IIO mill provided with a suitable mixing-shaft, and

adapted to be moved from side to side or from one point to another without changing the re- ITS lation of the buckets to the driving mechanism, as set forth. 7 v g 4. A crane for supporting a series of dredg-f ing and excavating buckets, provided with :hollow trunnions throughwhich or in which the bucket-operating mechanism is located, as set forth.

5. A series or chain of dredging or excavating buckets supported by a swinging crane, and devices, substantially such as described, for continuously movingor operating the buck ets, as set forth.

6. An endless chain of brick-forming molds, consisting of sections of cast-steel pivoted together, as shown, the sections'being provided with upwardly-projecting flanges which constitute the ends or sides of the mold, said projections being recessed or divided to allow of the passage of the cutting-knife therethrough, as set forth.

7. An endless chain of brick-forming molds composed of the sections is, provided with the recessed or divided flanges k, and the grooves or recesses l.

8. An endless chain of brick-forming molds composed of the sections k, provided with the flanges 7c, and grooves or'recesses Z, in combination with aknife orseries of knives, 0, which project into said grooves Z, as set forth.

9. In a brick-machine, an endless chain of brick-forming molds adapted to traverse a cavity in the lower portion or beneath the mixing-mill, the walls of said cavity arranged to form the outer walls of the mold, in combination with devices for levelingthe clay within the mold-sections, and a series of knives which sever the clay in a longitudinal direction, as set forth.

10. The combination of the endless chain of brick-formin g molds with the tank or reservoir of water Q, the molds being arranged to dip into the water to wash ofl' any clay which may have adhered to the molds and to lubricate thelsame, as set forth.

11. In a brick or tile machine, an endless chain of brick-formingmoldsorcompartments, in combination with water-tank for wettin g or washing the molds, and a sanding box or hopper for spraying or distributing sand inthe molds, all arranged to operate substantially in the manner described.

, 13. In a brick-machine of the character described, the pug or mixing mill provided with a mixing-shaft suspended therein, and a hollow extension, M, incombination with the scrapers or cross-bars '5 15, whereby the clay is forced compactly into the molds and the surplus of clay removed therefrom.

14. The shaft B, pinion-wheels A and B, shafts O and I) with their pulley-wheels and connecting-belt, in combination with the elevator-buckets and mixing-shaft of the pugmill, as set forth.

15. The shaft B, pinion-wheels A and B, shafts O and D with their pulley-wheels and connecting-belt, with the shaft d and vertical shaft within the trunnions of the crane, whereby motion is imparted to the two series of excavating and elevating buckets and the pugging-shaft, as set forth.

16. The shaft 0, provided with a cone-put ley, e, and shaft d, provided with a pulley and a connecting-belt, e, in combination with a vertical shaft located within the post of the crane and the shaft for driving the elevator-buckets I, as set forth.

17. The combination of the cone-pulley c with the belte, shaft (1, and the mechanism connected therewith for driving the elevatorbuckets I, whereby the speed of travel of said buckets is regulated to increase or diminish the amount of loamy or other clay which is to be mixed with the clay delivered by the other series of buckets, as set forth.

J. G. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

LILLIE E. ANDERSON, FRANK L. BLAKE. 

